The Real Bounty: Marine Biodiversity in the Pitcairn Islands

摘要: In 2012 we conducted an integrated ecological assessment of the marine environment Pitcairn Islands, which are four most remote islands in world. The and atolls (Ducie, Henderson, Oeno, Pitcairn) situated central South Pacific, halfway between New Zealand America. We surveyed algae, corals, mobile invertebrates, fishes at 97 sites 5 30 m depth, found 51 new records for 23 15 fishes. structure communities was correlated with age, isolation, geomorphology islands. Coral algal assemblages were significantly different among Ducie having highest coral cover (56%) dominated by erect macroalgae (42%). Fish biomass top predators (62% total fish biomass) Henderson (35%). Herbivorous Pitcairn, while Oeno showed a balanced trophic structure. high levels regional endemism across (45%), level observed (56% number). first surveys deep habitats around Islands using drop-cameras 21 from depths 78 to 1,585 m. 57 species drop-cams, including rare such as false catshark (Pseudotriakis microdon) several undescribed species. addition, made observations typically shallow reef sharks other down 300 Our findings highlight uniqueness biodiversity value one least impacted suggest need immediate protection.